News

It’s almost October, the nights are drawing in, and finally, after its traditionally lengthy summer (and autumn) recess, the Dail returns to business this week.

But the choreography will come not from a considered statement of objectives from the governing parties, but from the media managers at Sinn Fein. It is hardly a coincidence that the resumption of parliament will be overshadowed by the long-awaited decommissioning of IRA weapons, a move that will be heralded as yet another historic moment in the interminable crawl towards normal politics in Northern Ireland.

Already RTE’s Charlie Bird, the station’s chief news correspondent, is breathless with excitement about this week’s expected events and will, no doubt, deliver news of this defining moment in our history as TDs from around the country gather in Dublin. The business of democracy will be pushed into the background by those who have no grasp of what it means.